Fence-post base.



PATENTED JAN. 1

ITLVe IIIF, llllllliil llll Imnnnnm H. "L. FELL- FEN GE POST BASE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1906.

w a'mes g HENRY L. FELL OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

FENCE-POST BASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1907.

Application filed June 3, 1906. Serial No. 320.801.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I HENRY L. FELL, of Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Post Bases; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in combination fence-posts or in concrete bases for fence-posts of the kind shown in my Patent No. 816,719, issued to me April 3, 1906; and the object of the present invention is to provide a substantial fence-post base having the advantages of drainage and air circulation set forth in my former patent and of solid and substantial construction; and the present invention consists in the novel construction of parts as hereinafter described and claimed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the base with post attached, the base being partly broken to show the reinforcing-loops. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the base with post in elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line '4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5,

The base comprises a cylindric shell which, while it may be formed in one piece, is preferably formed in opposite semicylindric halves 1, which part on a vertical lineand are preferably provided on their meeting edges with vertical interlocking tongues, as indicated at 1, so that lateral displacement of the two sections when fitted together will be prevented. They are also provided on their meeting edges with horizontal interlocking tongues and grooves, as at 1 so that vertical displacement of the two sections will be prevented when the halves are bound together, and when properly planted in the ground the pressure of the earth will hold the two halves securely together.

By forming the base-shells in separable sections, as described, they can be more readily molded, more easily transported and handled, and the post retaining devices can be more readily attached thereto. Furthermore, when planted in the ground the base-shell is less liable to be broken or disrupted by inter- If desired, the walls of the sections may be slightly tapered, being thicker at top than at bottom, as indicated in Fig. 2, so as to have the base strongest at the top, where it is subjected to most strain. 1

Within the upper end of the base is a clampring 4, which is perforated at suitable points for the passage of the inner ends of bolts 3,

which transfix the base and the ring, as shown,

and engage nuts 3 at the inner sides of the ring, so that by turning the bolts or nuts the bolts and ring can be strained, so as to bind the sections 1 securely together. As shown, washers 3' may be interposed between the heads of the bolts and the sides of the sections. This clamp-ring 4 also forms the upper support for the post 6, the lower end of which is held in a foot-block 5, which is preferably removably fitted within the lower part of the base-shell, as shown, and its height can be regulated to suit by tamping more or less earth in the shell before the foot-block is placed therein. It is shown in about the proper position in Fig. 2. This foot-block is provided with an interior conical bore 5*, largest at its upper end, and with exterior channels 5 in its sides, so that water entering the base can readily escape. The bore 5 however, is intended to retain and center the lower end of the post 6 within the base, the lower end of the post 6 being preferably square-beveled, as at 6, so that it will wedge itself tightly in the bore 5 and yet not have an extended bearing thereagainst,but airspaces 8 will be left between the lower end of the post and foot-block, while a large airspace S is left in the base around the post above the foot-block. By thus providing for a free air circulation around the lower portion of the post within the base the life of the post is greatly prolonged, as its lower part is kept dry, while if it was in contact with earth or moisture-retaining bodies it would be quickly rotted out. The upper part of the post, which is preferably angular also, passes through the clamp-ring 4, and by turning bolts 3 so as to draw nuts 3 outward the clamp-ring is caused to securely and firmly hold the post at its corners. If desired, the bolts 3 may be made long enough to partly penetrate the wood or bear against the sides of the post. The post is thus easily but securely centered and held in place in the base. The clamp-ring performs the double functions of a means for uniting the opposite basesections when the shell is made in sections and as a means for holding the post in upright position when placed within the base.

In assembling the post the shell is first buried in the ground, the'sections of the shell when made in sections being first fitted 1properly together and the clamp-ring 4 and olts 3 being properly applied. After the shell is tamped with earth the sections will be held close together by the exterior pressure. The foot-block 5 may then be put in place, sul'hcient earth being tamped in the shell to support the block at the desired height Then bolts 3 are loosened and the previously-prepared post slipped downward therethrough until its square tapered lower end wedges tightly in foot-block 5, which exactly centers it in the base. Then bolts 3 are tightened and the clamp-ring binds the upper part of the post and securely centers and holds it in and to the base and at same time firmly unites the upper ends of the base-sections. If any water enters the base, it escapes through channels 5 5 and the lower part of the post remains dry, being surrounded. by a dry-air space.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A post-base comprising a shell, a conically-bored foot-block in the lower part of the shell adapted to retain the lower end of the post, and means above the foot-block connecting the post to the shell and centering it in the shell, substantially as described.

2. A post-base comprising a shell, a conically-bored footblock in the lower part of the shelladapted to retain the lower end of the post-and a clamp-ring and bolts adapted to fasten the post above the foot-block.

3. A post-base comprising a shell, a re movable conically-bored foot-block in the lower part of the shell adapted to retain the lower end of the post, a clamping-ring in the upper part of the shell adapted to engage the upper part of the post, and bolts for centering the clamp-ring in the shell and tightening it upon the post, substantially as described.

4. In a post-base, a shell, post-securing bolts translixing the shell, and reinforcingloops embedded in the shell, substantially as described.

5. Apost-base comprising a shell, a footblock in the lower part of the shell, a clamping-ring above the foot-block, bolts engaging the ring and transfixing the shell, and rein forcing-loops embedded in the shell, substantially as described.

6. In a post-base, the combination of a shell, a foot-block having a conical bore in the lower part of the shell; a clamping-ring above the foot-block, bolts transfixing the shell and said ring, and nuts on said bolts, substantially as described.

7. In a post, the combination of a shell, a foot-block having a conical bore in the lower part of the shell; a clamp-ring above the foot-block, bolts transfixing the shell and said ring, nuts 011 the inner threaded ends of the bolts, a post inserted through said rim and having its lower end wedged in the bore of the footblock, substantially as described.

8. In a post, the combination of a shell, bolt-holes in the upper ends of said sections, wire-loops inclosing said holes and embedded in the shell, a foot-block inthe shell having a conical bore, a clamping-ring above the footblock, bolts engaging the openings in the shell and ring, nuts 011 the inner ends of said bolts, and a post inserted through the ring, and having its lower end wedged in the conical bore of the foot-block.

9. A post-base comprising a shell composed of longitudinally-soparable sections, a foot-block in. the lower part of the shell adapted to retain the lower end of the post, and clamping devices uniting the upper ends of the sections and adapted to engage the post above the foot-block.

10. In a post, the combination of a shell made in longitudinally-separable sections, a

foot-block having a conical bore in the lower part of the shell, a clamping-ring above the foot-block, bolts transfixi'ng the shell-sections and said ring, and nuts on said bolts, and a post passing through said ring and having its lower end wedged in the footblock, substantially as described.

11. In a post, the combination of a shell made in longitudinally-separable sections, a foot-block having a conical bore in the lower part of the shell a clamp-ring above the foot-block, bolts transfixing the shell-sections and said ring, nuts on the inner threaded ends of the bolts, a post inserted through said ring and having its lower end wedged in the bore of the foot-block, said post being surrounded by air-spaces in the base, substantially as described.

12. In a post, the combination of a shell made in longitudinally-separable sections, bolt-holes in the upper ends of said sections, wire-loops inclosing said holes and embedded in the shell-sections; a removable foot-block IIO in the shell having a conical bore, a clamping- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as ring above the foot-block, bolts engaging the my own I affix my signature in presence of 10 openings in the shell and ring, nuts on the tWo Witnesses. inner ends of said bolts, and a post inserted through the ring, and havin its lower end wedged in the conical bore 0 the foot-block In presence of-- so as to leave air-spaces between the post and NELSON TOLAND, shell. GEO. RYAN.

HENRY L. FELL. 

